Froome grabs final overall victory in Critérium International after stage-winning attack

Porte makes late burst to net second, van Garderen ends up third overall

Team Sky used the old one two to fine effect today, with Chris Froome and overnight race leader Riche Porte netting first and second overall in the Critérium International via the tactic.

After his Sky team-mates set the pace on the climb, Froome attacked just over five kilometres from the summit of the Col de l'Ospedale and quickly opened a good lead. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team), who had started the day third overall, tried to chase but was unable to close the gap.

He had been seen as the biggest challenger to Porte but was caught on the back foot by Froome’s attack, and also by a later counter by Porte which saw him drop the American, catch and pass riders who were between Froome and the chasing group, and then go on to net second on the stage.

“The stage panned out more or less how we expected. The plan was to control the race throughout the day. It was a huge job and we really put pressure on the other teams,” a delighted Froome said afterwards.

“Richie and I didn’t have to make any big efforts until right at the end there. The team did that work for us and all we had to do was finish it off.”

Having two riders so well positioned overall meant that the Sky could play one off the other if necessary, forcing the other riders to cover both. That’s how things worked out, with those marking race leader Porte having to decide whether or not to try to follow Froome.

As it worked out, he was too strong for anyone – bar perhaps Porte – to stay with him, but in attacking when he did, he set up the platform for his team-mate to later jump clear and nab second.

“I didn’t really intend to attack on the climb, but when the gap widened between myself and Richie, I felt I could go on, so I went for it,” he said.

“It was that quick thinking between us which brought about the victory and we couldn’t ask for any more than a one-two on the stage and GC.”

Paris-Nice winner Porte crossed the line 27 seconds behind his team-mate, and eighteen ahead of Bauke Mollema (Blanco Pro Cycling Team), Jean Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale) and van Garderen. He was embraced after the line by Froome, who took the overall by 32 seconds.

Van Garderen rounded out the podium with third overall, 54 seconds back, while Mollema and Peraud were a further six seconds adrift.

Froome’s success is the second major stage race win of his career, coming after his triumph in February in the Tour of Oman. He is one of Team Sky’s leaders for the Tour de France, while Porte is showing that he may also deserve support there.

When Froome attacked it brought back memories of his surges at the Tour de France which put Bradley Wiggins under pressure, and which led to some tense exchanges. However any thoughts that Porte might be irked by Froome’s surge today were played down by the Australian, who saw the outcome as a triumph for the team.

“Tactically we were spot on today. The team were absolutely incredible and it’s just a shame you don’t get to see all the work guys like Joe [Dombrowski], Jon [Tiernan-Locke], Xabi [Zandio], Kosta [Siutsou] and Vasil [Kiryienka] do to get us to that point where Froomey and I can attack at the end,” he said.

“Froomey set a hard tempo after Kiryienka’s mammoth turn and I thought I’d let a small gap go to see what happened, and that was the last we saw of Froomey, he was gone (laughs).

“It wasn’t planned but it worked out perfectly. We ride together every day so we know each other so well, and when he went nobody reacted so he had to continue. As I said yesterday, the only important thing was that Team Sky won today. It’s always special to get a one-two on the podium, especially given the strength of the field we had here, and we’re super happy.”

Team directeur sportif Nicolas Portal had a different take on things, suggesting the plan was always for Froome to attack.

“Froomey had to make his move a little earlier than expected but he was always going to go at some point, and if he’d have been chased down Richie would have counter-attacked,” he said. “Richie gave him a little nod when the gap had been made and then Froomey when full gas to the end.

“This is a perfect result for them because they are best friends and it will be a great memory for them to look back on in the future.”
How it played out:

The riders faced a tough 179 kilometre stage, with six categorised climbs lying in wait. One of the oldest riders in the pro bunch, Jens Voigt, showed he was undeterred when he was among the first to attack. He went clear after twelve kilometres of racing but was hauled back three kilometres later. A more successful move happened twenty kilometres after the drop of the flag, when Florian Vachon (Bretangne Seche) surged ahead.

The seven riders built a maximum lead of four minutes 35 seconds by kilometre 40, after which Sky put the hammer down and started to reduce the advantage.

Didier won the intermediate sprint at Monicia D'Aullene (km 48), eight and a half kilometres before Roy took top points on the day’s first climb, the Côte de Roccapina. The latter did likewise on the Côte d’Orasi, 67 kilometres in, where the break’s advantage was down to just over two and a half minutes.

Didier was again quickest at the sprint at Sartene (km 77), after which the Europcar riders began aiding Sky in the chase behind. The break pushed on regardless, with Roy nabbing top points at the Cote de Viggianello (km 93.5), but the riders out front were facing certain recapture. At kilometre 105 Europcar trio Thomas Voeckler, Cyril Gautier and Kevin Reza surged clear when the break was just twenty seconds ahead, and were joined by Matthias Frank (BMC Racing Team), Francis Mourey (FDJ) and Andy Schleck (RadioShack Leopard).

Voeckler and Gautier ramped up the pace on the climb of the Col de Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano (km 116), with the former then joined by Mourey and Frank in a three man move. Mourey led over the summit, with Scheck, Roy and Vachon 25 seconds back and the main bunch 50 seconds down.

Mourey also took top points on the Col de Bacinu (km 135), while Voeckler nabbed the sprint at Porto Vecchio, 159 kilometres after the start and just before the start of the climb. The break was then caught, setting things up for a big battle for the stage and the overall classification.

Porte’s Sky team took the reins on the climb and their pace caused several riders to lose contact, including last year’s winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team). The group continued to be whittled down and inside the final eight kilometres, Johan Tschopp (IAM Cycling) surged in a bid to nab the stage. He didn’t get far, then Froome made his bid, riding off the front of the bunch.

Jean-Christophe Péraud (Ag2r La Mondiale) gave chase but couldn't get up to the Sky rider. Van Garderen tried to chase but he too fell short; Porte bided his time, then rocketed clear with two kilometres remaining and drilled it to the top of the climb.

He his the line thirty seconds behind his team-mate and fifteen clear of the next chasers, Bauke Mollema (Blanco Pro Cycling Team), Peraud and van Garderen.

According to Peraud, the outcome will give the Sky duo a huge confidence boost, given the calibre of the riders that they rode away from. “They’ve proved they’re at a different level to the likes of Schleck, Evans and Talansky at the moment and that’s got to bode well as they continue to improve for the summer.”
Critérium International, France (2.1)